Daily Clips for October 5, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Petition drive launched for amendment to ban oil drilling By Bruce Ritchie Florida Tribune Environmental groups have launched a petition drive to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2012 that would ban oil drilling in Florida's nearshore waters. FEATURED STORIES Democrats see chance, face barriers in Florida governor's race By Michael C. Bender Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau Florida Democrats say this could be their best chance to win the governor's race since their last victory 16 years ago. Alex Sink blasts Rick Scott: "I just refuse to let (him) hijack my state without a fight" By Mary Ellen Klas St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau In her strongest language yet, Democrat Alex Sink blasted Republican rival Rick Scott as a mystery candidate who is trying to buy his way into the Governor's Office, "doesn't know zip about Florida" and whose proposals are "totally unrealistic." TCPalm.com/Zogby poll: Rubio continues to lead Senate race By Jim Turner TC Palm A majority of Floridians say the state is heading in the wrong direction and likely voters are continuing to lean toward Republican Marco Rubio over the now independent Gov. Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek in the race for U.S. Senate. Where does he stand on anything? Editorial Miami Herald Charlie Crist gives political opportunism a bad name. POLITICAL RACES Governor candidates tout plans to create jobs By Mitch Stacy The Assocaited Press If gubernatorial candidates Rick Scott and Alex Sink agree on anything, it is that jobs - specifically, how to bring new ones to Florida - is the No. 1 issue in their race. 3 back Rick Scott, sidestep immigration issue By Patricia Mazzei Miami Herald Miami's three Republican Cuban-American members of Congress threw their support behind Rick Scott on Monday, despite not seeing eye-to-eye with the GOP gubernatorial candidate on one of the signature issues of their congressional careers: immigration. Police union attacks Rick Scott's budget plan, saying it closes prisons and releases prisoners early By Aaron Sharockman St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact The state's two big police unions are backing Democrat Alex Sink for governor. Rubio, Crist cap off busy days of politicking around Tampa Bay, key to statewide victory By Robert Napper Florida Independent A visit from former Vice President Al Gore on behalf of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek in Tampa last Thursday dominated the local news cycle for a while, but it didn’t last long. Gelber attacks attorney general opponent for ties to Fox News, Palin By Robert Napper Florida Independent Democrat attorney general candidate Dan Gelber slammed his Republican opponent in her hometown last week during a rally for U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek. Democrat Loranne Ausley keys on legislative taint in CFO race against GOP Sen. Jeff Atwater By Lee Logan St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau Behind in fundraising and virtually unknown to many voters, chief financial officer candidate Loranne Ausley is trying to tar her opponent with nearly every questionable move made by the Legislature. Broward man forms 340 PACs, 40 political parties — and is running for governor By Jon Burstein South Florida Sun-Sentinel He calls himself a billionaire. He is a write-in candidate to be Florida's next governor at the same time he's running for U.S. Senate in 2012. Sarah Palin's Miami event postponed, new date to be announced By Lesley Clark Miami Herald Organizers of the scrapped Sarah Palin event say the show will go on -- with a date to be announced later this week. BALLOT INITIATIVES Is Brown’s opposition to redistricting amendments giving momentum to her opponent? By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent Could the battle over gerrymandering finally be catching up to Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville? Florida has straw ballot on US balanced budget By Brent Kallestad The Associated Press Looking for another possible wedge issue to use in the 2012 election cycle, Florida's Republican-led Legislature wants voters to weigh in on whether the federal government should be required to balance its budget like most states do. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Distance plays no role in oil spill payouts By Yolanda Fernandez Tampa Tribune Local businesses that suffered losses because of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill may soon receive relief from the $20 billion BP compensation fund. As federal action on energy stalls, St. Pete workshop calls for Florida to lead By Travis Pillow Florida Independent Related: Report: Offshore wind could replace petroleum in Florida’s power sector In Washington, the prospect of a comprehensive energy bill passing this year is growing increasingly dim, with some key senators doubting that a renewable energy requirement will pass after the election and President Obama saying progress will likely come in “chunks.” Environmental group: EPA remedies for phosphorous in the Everglades a ‘one-legged stool’ By Virginia Chamlee Florida Independent The Florida-based environmental group Friends of the Everglades today filed a legal response against the EPA, enjoining the agency to replace its proposed phosphorus standards with “a truly ‘enforceable’ and ‘mandatory’ ‘framework’ to achieve … Water Quality Standards in the Everglades Protection Area as quickly as possible.” Environmental group seeks tougher pollution protections for Everglades restoration By Andy Reid South Florida Sun-Sentinel With one legal showdown delayed, another is brewing in the fight over slow-moving Everglades restoration and the future of a land deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. that would cost South Florida taxpayers $197 million. LGBT Courts may be critical in 'don't ask, don't tell' battle By Nancy A. Youssef and William Douglas Miami Herald With Congress stalled on whether to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," some proponents of eliminating the long-standing prohibition on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military now believe their best hope lies with an increasingly supportive court system. EDUCATION Art Johnson seeks sweeping powers to transfer students among Palm Beach County schools to meet class-size limits By Cara Fitzpatrick Palm Beach Post Superintendent Art Johnson is seeking the power to move students to any school in Palm Beach County, regardless of where they live, to meet the state's class-size requirements. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY South Floridians show support for ambitious rail system, despite the price tag By Dan Sweeney Florida Independent On Sept. 22, Fort Lauderdale residents gathered at Holiday Park’s social center for the final public meeting on a topic that has long bedeviled South Florida — public transportation. Governments cut jobs, benefits to avoid raising taxes By Ludmilla Lelis Orlando Sentinel Local governments throughout Central Florida are bracing for a third consecutive year of tighter budgets as the tax revenue on which they depend is reduced by falling property values. HEALTH AND SENIORS Group says new health insurance law should apply to Cover Florida By Christine Jordan Sexton Florida Tribune A grassroots advocacy organization sent a letter to the federal government on Monday asking that Florida be required to follow all of the requirements in the federal health care overhaul. 121 Fla. entities join early retirement program The Associated Press Tampa Tribune The U.S. Health and Human Services Department has approved 121 employers and unions in Florida for assistance in paying for early retirees' medical insurance. AG under fire in WellCare case By Carol Gentry Health News Florida The Florida Supreme Court has been asked to disqualify Attorney General Bill McCollum from involvement in determining the amount of civil damages that WellCare Health Plans Inc. must pay to settle accusations of fraud against the Florida Medicaid program. JUSTICE AND THE COURTS Judge voids Fla. AG subpoena in foreclosure probe The Associated Press Tampa Tribune A Palm Beach County judge has tossed out a subpoena for information from a law firm in an investigation of foreclosure practices by Attorney General Bill McCollum. Broward School Board member Stephanie Kraft charged with bribery By Carli Teproff, Patricia Mazzei and Amy Sherman Miami Herald Related editorial: Another public official feeling the heat Broward School Board member Stephanie Kraft on Monday became the latest public official to get caught in a wave of high-profile corruption arrests that have exposed cozy ties among South Florida politicians, developers and lobbyists.